Syringe



July 2o, 1937. MOULD 2,087,511

SYRINGE Filed July 13, 1935 Paterted July 2o, 1937 UNITED STATE TENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention has to do with syringes and is concerned more particularly with a syringe for vaginal irrigation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a nozzle structure for a syringe wherein means is provided to enable the person to apply, direct and remove the nozzle from the treated cavity Without contact of the hand with the irrigating liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nozzle of this type with a control handle establishing communication between the nozzle and a source of irrigating liquid.

It is also an object to provide a smooth-surfaced no-zzle of form-recovering resiliently flexible material such as rubber so as to be capable of assuming the desired direction in the cavity to be treated and yet be suiiiciently yieldable and smooth to yield readily when contacting the walls of the cavity and slide readily along the walls without irritatingly rubbing them.

It is a further object to provide a nozzle having a relatively soft resilient form-recovering tip for wedging an entrance into the cavity.

In accordance with the general features of the,

invention, there is provided a soft resiliently yieldable tip of a consistency such as that of sponge rubber, for example, perforated to afford egress o-f the irrigating liquid and shaped to gently wedge an entrance to the cavity. The tip is united to a somewhat stiffer, generally cylindrical form-recovering resilient body of a consistency such as that of India rubber, for example. A control handle establishes communication from a source of liquid such as a faucet through any suitable means such as rubber tubing to the body. The connection is fluid tight and the handle is held tightly connected but is capable of separation to facilitate cleaning and drying of the body and tip.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the syringe nozzle connected to a faucet and ready for use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the invention attached for use.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partly in section, and partly in elevation, taken as indicated by the line III- III in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the body of the nozzle seen in Figures 2 and 3.

(Cl. 12S-251) Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view o-f the handle of the device.

The assembly of the syringe nozzle structure with a source of antiseptic or other liquid is shown in Figure l, in Which, for illustrative purposes only, the source is made available through a faucet A and rubber or the like flexible tubing B. The nozzle structure forming the subject matter of the invention is adapted for connection to the outlet end of the tubingy B, as will appear with the description.

The syringe device comprises three parts, namely, a tip I, a body 2 and a handle 3. The tip I is of a generally bullet or stream-line shape having a blunt tapering nose 4 which is perforated at 5 to provide egress of the liquid to the cavity to be irrigated. In view of the sensitivity of the entrance and walls of the cavity, such as the vaginal cavity, the point or tip I is made of very soft, although resilient, rubber or the like material which will gently wedge an opening into the cavity without harshness or the slightest irritation. The outer surface ofthe point or tip I is smooth to further facilitate its passage into and out of the. cavity. The rear part 6 of the tip I is open and the outer surface thereof is converged so that the tip I is of greatest diameter slightly forward of the portion 6 as shown at l.

At its rear open portion, the tip I is cemented as at 8 or otherwise suitably secured to another piece 2 constituting the body of the device. The cement is preferably of such a character as not to be affected by irrigating fluid or air, although if desired the parts could be bonded together in any suitable way. The body 2 is preferably made of a resilient material such as rubber and for the most part is of substantially cylindrical form as shown at 9. The forward end of the body 2 is preferably slightly reduced as at I0 and at the extremity is united to the rear portion of the tip I as previously mentioned.

Although the tip I is made of resilient material, its exibility is increased at its nose 4 by making the no-se 4 substantially thinner than the adjacent rearwardly extending portion 1 of the tip. Likewise, the tip is increased in flexibility at its rear portion E as shown at Ia forwardly o-f the juncture with the body 2. Thus the flexibility of the tip substantially as a whole transversely of the body 2 adjacent the front end thereof and in a generally axial direction at the nose of the tip is substantially increased. i

The body 2, although made of resilient material, is somewhat stiffer than the tip or point I in order to properly control the positioning of the tip I and to properly direct the movement thereof. The outer surface of the body 2 is smooth so as not to irritate the cavity walls and entrance contacted thereby.

The body 2 at its rear end is formed with an outwardly projecting flange II which may be of any suitable outline such as the generally rectangular outline shown, the juncture of the flange with the substantially cylindrical portion 9 being reinforced by a circular rib I 2.

A fluid tight joint or nipple is afforded between the tubing or the like B and the nozzle body 2 by the inner structure of the handle 3. This inner structure is indicated at I3 and includes a generally cylindrical portion I4 of an extent to project substantially into the rear generally cylindrical portion 9 of the nozzle body 2 as shown in Figure 3. The structure I3 also includes a flange I5 of the same general form as the flange II of the body 2. 'Ihe flange I5 is itself flanged or provided with a peripheral lip I6 which extends forwardly and inwardly to provide a recess I'I of a size to receive the body flange I l snugly. The lip IG projects inwardly so as to have an inner peripheral outline somewhat smaller than the other peripheral outline of the flange II. The outer periphery of the cylindrical portion I4 of the handle structure I3 is of preferably slightly greater diameter than the cooperating inner surface of the body 2. The material of which the handle 3 is made is preferably a hard molded substance such as hard rubber, phenolic condensation product or the* like. If desired, it need not be as hard as the materials mentioned, but is preferably substantially harder or stiffer than the body 2 so that it will respond properly to manipulation. Y

The flange II of the body 2 is provided with one or more holes I8 and the flange I5 is provided with correspondingly shaped and positioned projections I9 engag'eable tightly therein. The bore 20 of the handle structure I3 is of such dimensions as to engage about the tubing B with a fluid-tight fit.

In assembling the body 2 with the handle 3, the latterY is preferably first connected with the tubing B, and then the handle and nozzle structure are brought together axially so that the handle portion I4 is inserted into the body 42 under pressure, the lip I 6 at the same time being forced over the outer periphery of the flange II, the projections I9 and openings I8 having previously been aligned. The lip I6 is substantially snapped over the flange Il until the latter is fitted tightly in the recess I'I.v During the process of assembly the rear portion of the body 2 is somewhat expanded and the outer peripheral portion of the flange II somewhat compressed. The stress is insuiicient, however, to misshape the parts, and a strong, fluid-tight joint is provided, holding the parts in proper assembly without danger of accidental separation. When disassembly is desired, as for cleaning or drying the interior of the tip I and body 2, the parts may be readily manipulated substantially reversely to the manipulation required for assembly.

The handle 3 has a hand grip portion 2I of a size to be snugly received by the hand and permit the same to be manipulated to guide, direct and otherwise control movement of the nozzle into, in and from the cavity, without substantial likelihood of contact of the hand with liquid discharged from the cavity.

The device is of course not limited to use with a faucet since it is equally capable of use with a bag or other reservoir with a siphon or other action.

There is no danger of accidental separation of the handle so that the body 2 and tip I may at all times be readily removed from the Cavity. The flange structure limits the extent of penetration of the device, making it unnecessary to sway the nozzle to remove the same. The flange structure also serves asa shield to localize flow of the irrigating liquid issuing from the cavity and preventing such liquid from contacting the hand controlling the nozzle.

Metal is preferably absent from the cavitywall-engaging structure, thus avoiding the deleterious oxidation and the like to which metal is subject, and the only material eng'ageable with the parts to be treated is preferably readily yieldable.

The telescoped association of the parts makes for kready assembly and disassembly.

It is also to be noted that the grip extends transverse to the tubing B and body 2 so that` the person need not assume an awkward or uncomfortable position while using the syringe.

The tip, being larger transversely than the body or stem 2, forms substantially the only means of engagement with the Walls of the vagina, and its great yieldabilityenables it to be passed readily to the desired depth in ther cavity. The relative stiffness of the stem insures the movement of the stem and the tip thereon in the desired direction. The tip is bodily yieldable transversely of the stem at the weakened portion 1a.

The adjacent portions of the tip and stem are inclined to facilitate their assembly, since they will readily interengage as shown, by a wedge action, so that adjustment is unnecessary.

The reduced rear portion of the tip provides a tapered' engaging portion for .facilitating removal of the device from the cavity and also provides clearance for the escaping liquid.

The t of the lugs I9 in the openings IB is tight so as to assistl in preventing buckling of the nang'e II.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I do not therefore purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a device of the class described, a syringe including a tip and an elongated body, said body being readily resilient and self-recovering so as to yield and yet recover its shape to extend in the direction desired, and said tip being resilient and substantially softer than said body and of greater size than the body to form substantially the sole engagement with the walls of said body.

2. In a device of the class described, a syringe including a tip and an elongated body,rsaid body being readily resilient and self-recovering so as to yield and yet recover its shape to extend in the direction desired, and said tip being resilient and substantially softer than said body and of greater size than the body to form substantially the sole, engagement with the walls of said body, said tip having a progressively reduced front portion to enable it to wedge an entrance into the cavity.

3. In a syringe of the class described, a stem portion, a resilient tip portion connected to said stem portion, said tip portion being substantially reduced in thickness adjacent and forwardly of 5. In a syringe of the class described, a resilient hollow tip having front and rear portions of reduced girth and an enlarged intermediate cavitywall-engaging portion, said rear portion being of reduced thickness relative to the part forward thereof to enable said part to move bodily transversely thereof and said front portion being also of reduced thickness to collapse rearwardly when obstructed, said front portion being perforated for egress of irrigating liquid.

J-ULIUS GOULD. 

